Industry and Technology Minister Varank said, “Our country is the most profitable and safe harbor in the world for investors with its strong financial system, stable macroeconomic structure and attractive incentives.”
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the new R&D Center of Prometeon Tire Group, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank stated that Kocaeli, the heart of the industry, is almost their second home, and that they visited this city many times, even during the peak times of the epidemic, and opened important investments and projects.
Reminding that he came to Kocaeli for the Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle races held within the scope of TEKNOFEST last week, he also shared the excitement of the youth, and noted that they have repeatedly witnessed that there is no limit to what the Turkish youth can do when given the opportunity and opportunity.
Emphasizing that the Turcorns that came out of Turkey and the Akinci Assault Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which they delivered to the army recently, are a few of these examples, Varank said, “We will soon increase these examples in every field that requires technology and make our country a manufacturer of critical technologies, not a market.”
Pointing out that Kocaeli offers very attractive opportunities to investors with its qualified human resources, technological competencies, infrastructure opportunities and production capabilities, Varank expressed that many national and international companies prefer to invest here.
Emphasizing that Prometeon, which has been producing in Turkey for nearly 60 years, has chosen Turkey as the administrative center of the “Middle East-Africa-Russia” region, Varank said, “Because our country is the world’s most profitable and safe harbor for investors with its strong financial system, stable macroeconomic structure and attractive incentives. You can be sure that everyone who invested here won, and will continue to earn from now on. On this occasion, I invite global companies operating in high-tech sectors to Turkey to make production and R&D investments. Let’s evaluate the opportunities here together, let’s win together.”
“The tires to be sold to the whole world will bear the signature of Turkish engineers”
Giving information about the company, Varank emphasized that it is an important value for the country both with its production and exports and the employment it provides, and continued as follows:
“It also contributes significantly to the current account balance of our country by exporting approximately 50% of its total production to different markets of the world. Thanks to the R&D Center we opened today, commercial Prometeon tires that will be sold to the whole world from now on will bear the signature of Turkish engineers. The capacity of Prometeon, which has developed nearly 30 joint projects and 8 patents with TUBITAK, will increase further with new R&D investments. Prometeon Group is also one of our valuable investors who take initiatives on climate change. This new R&D center carries out important studies on tires that reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. I personally believe that they will develop very innovative products and methods in the near future.
As you can see, investment, production, employment, export… Here we have everything we are looking for. As a bonus, they add R&D and environmental responsibility. Of course, as the Ministry, we do not leave our company alone, which makes such a contribution to our country. Since the actual opening of the R&D center, we have benefited from very serious support and exemptions for this business. We will continue this support as long as they continue their work. In addition, we have made significant contributions to projects accepted within the scope of TUBITAK, including grants. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Prometeon Board of Directors for bringing this important R&D center investment to our country. I wish the center good luck for Prometeon and our country.”
Expressing that R&D and innovation activities are the main driving force behind economies, Varank said that states and businesses that saw this reality started to invest in these areas since the 19th century.
“We are working to ensure that there are no companies without R&D and Design Centers”
Noting that as Turkey, unfortunately, sometimes due to the shortsightedness of the unscrupulous and sometimes due to the mindset painted into heedlessness, Varank pointed out that they started their R&D studies very late. “Some circles did not do whatever they could to undermine what happened. That’s why we rolled up our sleeves and started working as soon as we took office as the government. We are working hard to ensure that there is no city without a Technology Development Zone, no company without R&D and Design Centers in our country. We have established an encompassing ecosystem to encourage the private sector to do R&D. As of today, the number of Technopark has reached 89, the number of R&D centers has reached 1251 and the number of design centers has reached 345.”
Emphasizing that there was no state-supported R&D and design center in 2002, Minister Varank continued as follows:
“The number of TDZs was only 5. Of course, in parallel with these developments, the ratio of R&D expenditures to national income increased from 5 per thousand to 1.06%. Another pleasing thing with this increase is the increasing share of our private sector in R&D expenditures. While the share of the private sector in R&D expenditures was 37% in 2006, this rate increased to 64% as of 2019. Along with R&D expenditures, we have made significant progress in the number of patents. The number of domestic patents, which was 414 19 years ago, has increased by 20 times to 8,200 in 2020. From where to where, but we do not see it enough. These numbers will go even higher thanks to the breakthroughs we will make as the public and the appetite of our companies like Prometeon.”
Pointing out that the Turkish economy showed signs of strong recovery in the post-epidemic period, and that the industry continued on its way despite all external shocks, Varank noted that they will continue to achieve their goals with greater determination once the epidemic is completely eliminated.
Emphasizing that knowledge is the dynamo and driving force of economic development, Varank said, “Today, the production, storage and dissemination of knowledge is an important fact of the economy. The source of growth is now seen as the R&D and innovation capacity of countries rather than labor and capital. In this context, as the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we see research and development as the guarantee of success in the construction of a great and powerful Turkey.”
After the opening, Varank, who examined the R&D Center and the factory, received information from the authorities.
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz